Global Law Trials Set For 2017

Five changes to law will be trialled globally next year after they were approved by World Rugby Council in London this week.

The amendments, which deal in aspects of law including front row replacements, advantage, touch, penalty tries and time-keeping, were first proposed by member Unions and then considered by the Law Review Group and Rugby Committee before being trialled on a closed basis in various competitions around the world. Having achieved positive results from those trials, LRG and Rugby Committee recommended to Council that the trials be expanded globally.

In line with the law review timelines, the trial will begin on January 1, 2017 in the southern Hemisphere and August 1, 2017 in the northern Hemisphere and will last for an initial period of one year. The 2017 British & Irish Lions tour and June window internationals will be played under the global law trials.

In addition, a package of law changes, specific to Sevens, will also be trialled (commencing at the start of the Men’s and Women’s 2016/17 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series).

Some proposed law amendments did not win approval for global trial at this stage but will be examined further under closed domestic trial conditions to provide extensive data, player, coach and match official feedback for evaluation.

World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “World Rugby continually reviews the laws to ensure that the game is as enjoyable, simple and safe as possible at all levels. I would like to thank our unions for their full support throughout the process, the experts who evaluated the closed trial data and look forward to seeing the results of the global trial.”

Rugby Committee Chairman John Jeffrey added: “These law amendments, which will go to global trial next year, are designed to improve the experience of those playing and watching the game at all levels and to avoid negative play where possible. We will gather all the data from the trial and then present it to the LRG and Rugby Committee for further consideration.”

The law changes set to be trialled globally are:

Law 3 Number of Players – The Team

3.6 (Uncontested Scrums)
Add (h) Uncontested scrums as a result of a sending off, temporary suspension or injury must be played with eight players per side.
Reasoning: To discourage teams from going to uncontested scrums.

Law 5 Time

Add to 5.7(e) If a penalty is kicked into touch after time has elapsed without touching another player, the referee allows the throw-in to be taken and play continues until the next time the ball becomes dead.
Reasoning: To discourage teams from infringing in the dying moments of the game.

Law 8 Advantage

Add to 8.1(a) When there are multiple penalty infringements by the same team, the referee may allow the captain of the non-offending team to choose the most advantageous of the penalty marks.
Reasoning: To discourage repeat offending when advantage is already being played and to reward teams against whom repeat offending has taken place.

Law 9 Method of Scoring

9.A.1 (points values)
Penalty Try. If a player would probably have scored a try but for foul play by an opponent, a penalty try is awarded. No conversion is attempted. 
Value: 7 points
Reasoning: To discourage teams from illegally preventing a probable try from being scored while also saving time on the clock by negating the need for a conversion.

Law 19 Touch and Lineout

Add to definitions on page 117:
– A player who is attempting to bring the ball under control is deemed to be in possession of the ball. 
Reasoning: This brings into law something that is already applied in practice. It means that a player ‘juggling’ the ball does not have to be in contact with it at the exact moment of touching the touchline or the ground beyond it for the ball to be deemed to be in touch. This makes it easier for the match officials to adjudicate.

Amend eighth definition on page 117:
– If a player jumps and knocks the ball back into the playing area (or if that player catches the ball and throws it back into the playing area) before landing in touch or touch-in-goal, play continues regardless of whether the ball reaches the plane of touch.
Reasoning: To simplify law and to increase ball-in-play time. 

Add to definitions on page 117:
– If the ball-carrier reaches the plane of touch but returns the ball to the playing area without first landing in touch, play continues.
Reasoning: To simplify law and to increase ball-in-play time.

Add to sixth definition on page 117:
– In this case, if the ball has passed the plane of touch when it is caught, then the catcher is not deemed to have taken the ball into touch. If the ball has not passed the plane of touch when it is caught or picked up, then the catcher is deemed to have taken the ball into touch, regardless of whether the ball was in motion or stationary.
Reasoning: To simplify law and to increase ball-in-play time.

With the exception of the change to Law 3, which is only for 15s, all these trials apply equally to 15s and Sevens.

In addition, the following trials were approved for law changes in Sevens only:

– Finals should last no longer than seven minutes each half (rationale is player welfare – the evidence shows that a disproportionate number of injuries take place in the second half of finals. Injuries per minute are higher in the second half of finals as opposed to the first half and throughout normal matches of seven minutes each way)
– Referee Video Referral (RVR) to be taken out of on-field referees’ hands with the ultimate decision being taken by the TMO – often difficult to see the screen and make a call. The RVR protocol remains unchanged. The TMO will be one of the pool of tournament referees
– The restart kick must be taken within 30 seconds of a penalty kick or dropped goal being attempted where the kick is successful or goes dead
– Teams must form a lineout within 15 seconds from the time the referee indicates the place where the throw-in will take place
– Teams must be ready to form a scrum within 15 seconds from the time the referee indicates the mark of the scrum
– A penalty or free-kick must be taken within 30 seconds of being awarded

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